gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Posted (5 months 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 12179 times:
Dubrovnik with British Airways. Club on the B734
Hi!
Thanks for clicking on my latest report, covering my December flight to Dubrovnik with British Airways in Club Europe.
So, how did this trip come about? Well, like so many other trips, it started with an email. As I was packing and preparing in Delhi for my homeward journey to London, I got this email from BA.
Hmm, so what deals did they have. Well, most of Europe was on sale for around £300 return. However, there were two destinations on sale for a lot less. One was Jersey, and the other Dubrovnik. I’ve long since wanted a journey to both of these exotic locales. Thankfully, the price was perfect for both of them…£129 return…in Club (€159/$207). And it was cheaper in business than economy!
How could I say no? The dates available were fairly limited (just 2 weeks before and after Christmas), so it was a choice of one or the other. Obviously, Dubrovnik is quite a bit further than Jersey (1052 miles vs 161), so was obviously my preferred choice. A bit of warm weather was also very alluring, so without further ado, I was booked for a weekend in Croatia. Time to escape the Christmas shopping madness!
The map, courtesy of GC Mapper, of this report:
It was when I was filling in my Flight Memory details that I realised that this flight would cover a nice landmark, namely my Millionth Kilometre flown. Of course, with all the circling I’ve done over the years, I’m sure I actually passed this landmark a few flights back, not to mention the fact that I only started counting flights from the age of 5 or so, when I’d already done a good hundred thousand kms (those London-Tokyo via Anchorage flights really add up).
Talking of landmarks, my previous report with Saudia finally got me into the “100 Airlines” club, not that I realised at the time. Oh, and I’ve nearly completed my 25th circumnavigation of the world, having finished my return trip to the moon a year or so ago. (Don’t you just love flightmemory.com for these useless facts?!)
Over the coming weeks, it was interesting to watch the Club section grow. When I booked, there were just 3 rows for Club (10 seats). By the time of the flight, we’d reached the maximum of 9 rows (34 seats).
Loads a week before the flight. Interestingly, the were happy to sell 7 award seats (I class), but only 5 full fare business tickets (C class).
Award availability
Two days before departure, availability has gone down a bit it Club, but still economy seems quite roomy.
BA has taken an interesting route for seat selection. With the exception of First Class, which has free seat allocation from the time of booking, if you aren’t a Gold/Silver card holder or on a full fare ticket, then you have to pay for seat reservation. So, even if you’ve spent £4,000 on a return to Sydney in Business Class, you’ll still have to stump up the cash (in this case £120 for a return flight). Whilst it left me playing seat roulette (i.e. hoping a good seat would be available at OLCI, rather than stump up the £20 o/w fee), I think it’s a fairly good policy, enabling more important customers (e.g. Gold card holders) the best choice of seats even when booking late, whilst enabling everyone to choose a seat in advance if they wish.
Thankfully, when OLCI did finally open, I’d been pre-assigned a window near the front….4F will do.
As I often do with morning flights out of Gatwick, I stayed the night with a friend in Redhill. Not too early the next morning, he gave me a lift to the station, and ten minutes later, I was in Gatwick South station. I did a big U-turn, and was shortly on the shuttle over to the North Terminal, where BA operates from.
Emerging from the shuttle outside the North Terminal
From the entrance, it’s not far to the BA desks. The place seems pretty busy today. No problem, I’m in Club, so head over to the nicely walled off Premium desks, as seen on the far right.
Oh dear. The queue for these desk snakes around, and out of the side. The 3 or so desks seems to have a queue of around 15, mostly families with a huge amount of luggage. Well, this isn’t very good. I about turn, and join an economy class bag drop line. In around 2 minutes, I’m seen to. Despite not having printed my boarding pass or bag tag yet (as one is supposed to do for these lines), the guy is friendly, quickly printing out the required documents, and commiserating on the massive lines in the premium area. He asks if I know where the lounge is (I do), and wishes me a pleasant flight.
There’s no queue for the “Premium Gatwick” security, and the guy is very friendly, escorting me around the corner, and pointing me towards the machine. Sadly, there is a family ahead of me with three teenage girls, fully decked out in leather boots, belts and metallic jewellery….unsurprisingly, it takes a while to get through.
Departures
FIDS. Seems like Barbados (Bridgetown) is popular this morning with 4 flights. And the “Commies” take over at noon.
With a good 90 minutes to go before boarding, I had to the lounge, and then for a shower (not having got up early enough to have one at my friend’s place)…good water pressure here.
Of course the large queues at check in mean that the lounge is correspondingly busy. So busy in fact that I find just one free table in the very far corner. It’s a grim old day.
LGW lounges don’t do a hot breakfast (unlike LHR), so it’s time for some fatty pastries and sugary fruit.
And an espresso
And the weather? The cold and crisp weather of the last few days in gone to be replaced with lashing rain…what a joy. I would normally be rejoicing that I was off to Southern Europe, although sadly Dubrovnik’s weather forecast is even worse than London.
After a while, the lounge emptied a little (although it was far from empty), so I took a quick seating photo.
In terms of lounge offerings, other than cold breakfast, there was cereal and toast. On the drinks side, there was everything you’d normally expect, plus some nice additions since my last time in a BA lounge….they now stock two types of pre-mixed cocktails (Mai Tai and Cosmopolitan)
Around 45 minutes before departure, I pack up my things, and head to the gate. I’m happy to see that we have a gate “over the bridge”. They have some quite nice naturalistic piped music playing in the corridors.
You get some great views up here. Shame about the rain.
I was delighted to be crossing just as a Vietnam Airlines 777 was being towed to its gate ahead of its noon Hanoi departure.
There’s not much the other side of bridge, other than a shop or two. Here’s the delayed Algiers flight boarding. Algiers is actually closer to London than Malaga, Gibraltar and Dubrovnik. Sadly this isn’t recognised in relation to fare prices or entry requirements.
Over the way, at gate 107, is G-DOCW, my plane today down to the Adriatic. This’ll be my third flight with her, having previously flown her LGW-AGP and MRS-LGW.
Boarding is very civilised, with a clear boarding announcement for “Fast Track“ passengers to board first. This is strictly enforced. I’m roughly tenth to board, and pick up some papers on the way.
December 2012
London Gatwick (LGW) – Dubrovnik (DBV)
British Airways BA 2678
Scheduled: 1110-1450 (2h40m)
Actual: 1120-1427 (2h07m)
Boeing 737-400 G-DOCW
Business Class (Club Europe)
I’m greeted at the door by a large friendly lady (whom will spend most of the flight laughing), and directed down the aisle (as if my seat cold have been in front of 1L).
I stop at row 4, and start putting my bag in the overhead. I hear a “yes” behind me. The lady in 4D is standing about 1 cm behind me seemingly desperate to sit down. Hang on! With my back pack stowed, I sit down, closely followed by 4D. I thought for a second she mind go for the middle seat she was so close behind me. Nice legroom at the front.
It’s still pouring
The cabin slowly fills up. As far as I can see, the front 8 rows are completely full, with row 9 (the last row) being completely empty.
We push back a bit late, and taxi out of the soaking wet runway.
Of we go!
An Openskies 757 in LGW for some R&R.
As you can see, LGW is very handy for the railway. This is the main London-Brighton route.
Five minutes after take off, the curtains are drawn between Club and economy, and the two crew start the service. When there are more than 15 people in Club, there are 2 FAs working in the cabin (and 2 in economy). With 15 or less, there is just 1 in Club, but still 2 in economy. First off, it’s time for hot towels (which are luke warm at best). Nice to have the cocktail tables. As always, I use the towel to give the arm rests/table/anything else I can reach a good scrub.
Still cloudy outside
The cabin. I like the Millennium Bridge photos on the bulkhead
My selection of newspapers. Gatwick is still the only place I’ve seen the China Daily on offer anywhere in the UK. Never seen it in a shop, or at LHR.
The sun’s finally burning it’s way through
Twenty minutes after wheels up, lunch is served. Well, I say lunch, but this meal has been branded as “brunch” by BA. Thankfully, I’d read this wonderful thread before the journey, was able to plan my meals accordingly.
In their infinite wisdom, despite the flight leaving around 1130, and arriving into destination at around 1430, lunch is not served in business class. Lunch only starts at 1200. Clearly ridiculous, especially when the choices are “would you like a croissant or the cold cuts”. Er, seriously, “a croissant” is NOT a meal choice! To be fair to BA, the croissant does come with a saucer of fruit. Having eaten a plate full of pastries and fruit in the lounge, I go for the cold cuts.
It’s pretty tasty – nice to have the smoked salmon and cream cheese. I did half keep expecting the crew to come by and give me a choice of hot main courses, but of course they didn’t. I’m sorry BA but this is NOT ok. I can only imagine what an SQ flight attendant would say if that’s all they had to offer on a Singapore-Bangkok flight (which is some 25% shorter). I’m pretty sure that most people on a post-11am flight will have had breakfast, and be expecting lunch.
As one should do when in Club, I go for a champagne.
Still rather hazy
Given the rather dainty portion, it doesn’t take long to finish.
By this time, we have it some nice weather. Looks nice and snowy down below.
Gradually, the plains give way to mountains.
A nice shot of Bregenz and Lake Constance. You can just about make out Alternrhein Airport at the bottom of the hill. I used to think this was in Austria, as it’s served frequently from VIE on OS, but it actually lies just over the border in Switzerland.
And with all the international features pointed out!
What a gorgeous day above the Austrian Alps
Before too long, the crew are back, clearing the trays, and taking more drinks orders. It seems like everyone is going for a post-brunch champagne. I love how most of the time, people might have a tea, or a coffee, or a coke with lunch. But today, whilst flying over the Alps, everyone turns into a lush, quaffing champagne like there’s no tomorrow.
More mountains
Of course, as well as champagne, there are quite a few extra items in the BA Club Europe bar trolley.
As I’ve done my last few premium flights, I go with a Cointreau. I’m also given a bag of Club World “Out of Africa” nuts.
Checking out Highlife
Seems like they’ve updated the look of the maps
Another cabin view whilst my seat mate is away.
Sadly, the clouds are back, so no chance of any more views.
Whilst waiting to use the toilet, I do a bit of papping in the galley.
Despite the plane’s age, the toilet area is clean and functional.
As this is a celebration flight (not that I needed an excuse), I thought I might as well order a few more drinks. On my way back from the facilities, I asked in the galley about getting a couple more Cointreaus. “Hmm, let me check if they’re any more. They don’t load many, as no one asks for them”. I guess no one asks, as no one knows about them! All the more for me. Thankfully, there are two left, neatly bandaged together. I also ask for a comment form.
Ta dah! I love those little bottles!
Sadly, the flight is drawing to a close. Into the clouds we go.
The crew come through for a final time collecting empties. They have a stack of plastic cups on their trolley…most people seem to still have a drink with them, which are duly transferred into the new cups, ready for landing. Unlike my last business class flight to a leisure destination (i.e. flying to Cyprus with Aegean), people on this flight did enjoy the bar! I also handed back my comment card praising the crew (I don’t think they sat down once. They were constantly in the aisles making sure everyone was happy and their alcohol requirements gratified), as well as lambasting BAs choice of catering on the route and the lack of desks at check in.
Doesn’t look like the Adriatic sun is shining today. At least it’s not raining.
Welcome to Dubrovnik!
The terminal and tarmac are empty. During the summer, the airport is packed. Mid-winter, decidedly less so. Today sees a handful of flights from Zagreb, and one each to Rome, Frankfurt and London. Saturday’s even bleaker, with just 2 ZAG flights and a MUC.
What’s what I see on the hills?
Snow! This is not what I was expecting (or hoping for)!
There’re no airbridges in DBV, so it’s across the tarmac to the terminal.
Once final look at G-DOCW…I hope not to see you on Sunday!
Obviously passport control is empty apart from us, and after a few minutes wait, I’m stamped in (I’m surprised that Croatia still insists on stamping the passports from the UK…hardly any country stamps in Europe if they can avoid it….and what do they do with people arriving on ID cards?).
The bags take a while to be spewed onto the belt. I’m happy to see that priority tagged bags do come out first.
Against my SOP, I stop at a bureau de change to change enough money for the bus. Croatia is pretty good when it comes to international credit card acceptance (in fact, better than most European countries, apart from the UK of course with our love of plastic), as well as being able to spend Euros in most places.
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 1, posted (5 months 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 12318 times:
Once everyone has been processed, the bus pulls off for the short journey into town.
I’m dropped outside the Pile (peel-ay) Gate, so stop to take some photos of the sea. Looks rather ominous.
I’m sure my bag enjoys the view.
After finding my hotel, I don my waterproof and head into town. Dubrovnik really is very charming, and even in the dull winter drizzle, the gorgeous stone that everything seems to be built of shines nicely. Whilst it’d be nice to come back in the summer, my aversion to crowds and other tourists mean this is fairly unlikely, at least whilst I’m still able to visit more “interesting “ places.
Nearly deserted of people, but full of cats
Nice to see that despite the crap weather, there is still plenty of citrus fruit around.
Dinner tonight is my old favourite risotto…served with cuttlefish ink. Very tasty, and beautifully served in a massive old pot.
So, after a night and a morning in Dubrovnik, I pick up my hire car, and head off into the wilderness (well, head up the Pelješac Peninsula). The coastal road (the highway linking Dubrovnik to the rest of Croatia), hugs the mountains and offers amazing views. Here is my view of the sea and clouds, and my half eaten cevapi sandwich.
After an hour of driving (during which I accidentally miss my turn and end up at the Bosnian border), I arrive in the village of Mali Ston. What is this wall? At first I thought it must be a mock up for a film set in China. I then read my guidebook and find out it’s Europe’s longest Medieval city fortification.
After a bit of a hike, I get back into the car, and continue my drive up to the top of the peninsula, to the sleepy town of Orebić. I got a great deal on an apartment (I think I may have been the only tourist in town, no, the entire peninsula that night) which is warm and comfortable. It also sports possibly the most revoltingly decorated bathroom in Christendom. Check out the wooden toilet seat!
Unsurprisingly, there is little to do at night, so I grab a pizza, and get started on this report. Next morning dawns slightly less grey and miserable than yesterday….there are even some fleeting rays of sun! I head over the mountains to the end of the peninsula, and the tiny village of Lovište.
A cat parked next to my car overnight
My lovely car enroute. I managed to get a day an a half rental for around GBP 15…not bad.
Downtown Lovište
Sums up the peninsula….”nothing happening, so might as well sleep through the winter, waking occasionally to eat oranges.”
The peninsula is famed in Croatia for its wine. I bought a few bottles, although none of the numerous wineries were open to visitors in this bleakest of off seasons.
I stopped by Mali Ston on my way back to Dubrovnik to have lunch…apparently Ston and Mali Ston are foodie destinations. And it’s true, the food was wonderful…another giant risotto, this time à la moules.
And a tasty fish paté
With close on five hours before departure, and just an hour’s worth of road to cover, I stop at the Trsteno Arboretum on my way back to the airport. There are some gorgeous views over the Adriatic.
As I pass Dubrovnik, there are a few glimpses through the trees, although no good place to stop and take a photo from.
I fill up the car, and make my way to the airport just as it’s getting dark. A few kilometres short of the airport I spot a couple of hitch hikers standing in the drizzle. They (one Pole, one Brazilian) are headed for the Montenegrin border some 20 kilometres away, before Albania. Sadly I can’t take them to the border, so drop them off outside the airport instead.
With no flights scheduled for a few hours, and being 2.5 hours early, the airport is basically deserted. Sadly, the Oryx car hire office is unmanned, despite being well inside office hours. There’s no one around to ask, so head into the terminal across the wet and windy drop off zone.
There are a few people milling around. There are six SSCI machines. Despite ba.com saying such things didn’t exist in DBV, these do work for BA (well, four machines were broken, but two did work!). The seat map is fairly full, but I can still get a window in the middle of the cabin.
A nasty themo paper boarding pass is spat out. There is one desk open for all flights (of which we are the only one). There’s just one person ahead of me, and before long, I the friendly lady at the desk welcomes me, and prints out my bag tag. I also ask for another boarding pass, which is printed on proper card. She directs me to immigration, informing me of the location of the lounge. As I walk away, a few more agents appear, and begin setting up the check in area properly with signs and bowls of flowers (only for the Club desk, obviously).
I nearly make the mistake of heading for immigration before remembering I still have the car key in my pocket. I head back to the car hire area, which is still deserted. Thankfully, just as I manage to find a wifi network and Skype Oryx’s HQ, the guy that gave me the car yesterday appears.
With the car handed back, I make my way back to the terminal, and head for security (no queue) and immigration (no queue).
Busy as always
I have a quick looking in the duty free (and buy a bottle of Cointreau, although I fear it may sit on the shelf for a while before being finished), then head up to the lounge. DBV airside is nice and airy. The lounge is somewhat strangely situated in the roof area.
This is from the middle floor. The lounge is up to the top left.
The lounge is fairly busy already. Not surprisingly (given the infrequency of the route, and the fabulous deal), I recognise nearly half the lounge occupants from the outbound flight.
The lounge is clean, but all the furniture seems to have been sourced from a shutting down office, and the chairs all seem to be arranged as if one were about to hold a brain storming session.
Having only had one small glass of wine at lunch, I was looking forward to having some Croatian beer before I left.
There were nice looking chocolates on every table. Sadly, they tasted rather horrible…certainly no Milka!
View of the tarmac. Whilst I was sitting there, the thunderstorms forecast finally arrived with a flash and a bang or two. I hope my two hitch hikers weren’t too soaked.
The lounge. White seats for the chairman.
Cointreau and Avianca
A few minutes ahead of her STD, G-DOCN arrived on stand.
Time to make my way down to the basement
Unlike in LGW, there was no priority boarding here. As I left the lounge before boarding was called, by the time I got down to the gate, I was just in time to be third or fourth in the queue. Despite the plane being parked some 20m from the terminal, and the fact that the rain had stopped, we were bussed (covering around 500 m) to the plane.
As you can see, the distance from terminal to plane hardly requited a bus
December 2012
Dubrovnik (DBV) - London Gatwick (LGW)
British Airways BA 2679
Scheduled: 1915-2105 (2h50m)
Actual: 1909-2045 (2h36m)
Boeing 737-400 G-DOCN
Business Class (Club Europe)
Once again, the Club cabin stretched back to row 9. I bought a panettone, which occupied most of the middle seat.
Safety card
The cabin gradually filled up with another bus or two. We pushed back nice and early, and ended up taking off into a blustery and wet Dubrovnik sky some 6 minutes early.
Some fifteen minutes after take-off, hot towels are handed out…nice facts in the Business Life magazine
A few minutes later, and the drinks trolley rolls up to my row. I decided to stay away from the cheap champagne, and try something different. Hmmm, what to go for? I like to use premium travel to try things I wouldn’t waste my money on on the ground. Today’s drink roulette landed on Southern Comfort. Er, and I think it goes with lemonade? Yes, that sound right, I’ll go with that. It’s served with sparkling water and Out of Africa nuts.
Hmm, I quite like it!
Dinner takes a while to roll its way down the aisle. Tonight, unlike on the outbound, there is actually a reasonable choice. One can either go for a salad with a hot piece of Cajun salmon on top, or a beef stroganoff. Both sound pretty good, but I go with the beef in the end.
Now, doesn’t that look a lot better than on the way out!?
There’s plenty of meat and rice– very tasty.
Top up of drinks are also done. I stick with the SoCo and Sprite.
Time to start on the dessert…well, the two chocolates
Thumbs up to the catering this time
Another perk of the Club bar…peppermint tea. I don’ think they have a proper coffee machine on-board though, so no espressos.
With nothing much to do after dinner, I settled back with a copy of Business Traveller, and ordered my final Southern Comfort. I thought about ordering something different, but thought better of it.
As we made our approach to Gatwick (annoyingly referred to by the purser simple at “London’s Gatwick” rather “London’s Gatwick Airport”), the proper glass was replaced for a plastic version.
Ahead of schedule, we touch down at a dark and wet Gatwick
We parked at the pier the other side of the bridge, which was nice as I got some good views of the plane.
Gatwick, much like Heathrow, forces passengers to walk down many miles of bland corridors to get to arrivals. There was a shortish wait for immigration, another a ten minute wait for the bags to appear on the belt.
I headed out through arrivals, and onto the shuttle to the South Terminal.
Finally I got a delayed train back home.
So, to help me summarise my experience, I’m using three BA supplied photo aids:
Easy time at the Airport
Well, the check in experience was poor to say the least (there was certainly no breezing done), but the fast track security, lounge and priority boarding all get the thumbs up.
Increased On-board Comfort
It’s nice having an empty middle seat….gives you plenty of space. Legroom is good, and the cocktail tables are a nice addition. The seats themselves are comfy, although a little long in the tooth on the ageing 737 fleet.
Superior Catering
Ok, well “perfectly suited to the time of the day” definitely falls way past the mark. Outbound catering was embarrassingly mean. The far more generous dinner catering on the return was much more like it. And indeed, the responsive and highly trained crew were excellent in helping me enjoy the bar.
Croatia?
And as for the Southern Dalmatian coast? Well, if it had been a little warmer, and a lot less wet, it would have been lovely! The food was good, and the scenery fantastic.
As always, all comments and questions welcome, and thanks for reading about my latest trip!
And a few reports to come in the next few months:
January will see me do 7 Alitalia legs in as many days, LHR-FCO-GOA,MXP-NRT-FCO-BRI,BDS-LIN-LHR
February will see me complete my Star Alliance lounge tour of Europe (i.e. do the lounges I want to see before my LH Silver card finally gives way to Blue) with LH, LO & OS routing LHR-DUS-WAW-VIE-LHR
And Easter will herald another inaugural, Cityjet’s new LCY-DRS route, along with a return NUE-LCY.
roberts87 From Netherlands, joined Dec 2011, 660 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (5 months 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 11920 times:
Great detailed report about BA's service on those LGW flights! Indeed, a rather uninspiring meal on that outbound flight, I actually my LHR-DUS meal was more substantial! Inbound looked pretty tasty.
Dubrovnik looked nice too, shame about the cold weather though!
Enjoy all those trips coming, I'll be looking forward to those reports!
PlaneHunter From Germany, joined Mar 2006, 6190 posts, RR: 79 Reply 5, posted (5 months 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 11863 times:
HI Gabriel,
nice report about your short visit to Croatia. I'm not overly impressed by BA's C Class product, though.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Thankfully, the price was perfect for both of them…£129 return…in Club (€159/$207). And it was cheaper in business than economy!
The fare is great, no doubt about that.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): In their infinite wisdom, despite the flight leaving around 1130, and arriving into destination at around 1430, lunch is not served in business class. Lunch only starts at 1200.
Quoting roberts87 (Reply 3): Great detailed report about BA's service on those LGW flights!
Thanks
Quoting roberts87 (Reply 3): Indeed, a rather uninspiring meal on that outbound flight, I actually my LHR-DUS meal was more substantial! Inbound looked pretty tasty.
Quoting OA260 (Reply 4): I agree with the points about the catering outbound. They need to up their game and offer a bit more. Nice to see the return was a lot better.
Indeed, a fail out the outbound, sucess on the return
Quoting roberts87 (Reply 3): Enjoy all those trips coming, I'll be looking forward to those reports!
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 5): What's the big deal? Everybody knows that the airport is meant.
Will it was the intonation rather as well as the poor grammar...I was left thinking London's Gatwick.....what? Probably sounded ok to a non-native English speaker
adamspotter From Netherlands, joined Feb 2011, 782 posts, RR: 2 Reply 7, posted (5 months 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 11666 times:
Hi Gabriel!
Another great report as usual. Looks like you had 2 enjoyable flights in Club Europe. You sure got a great deal, when notifying us on FB about this deal I was very tempted to take it but it didn't work out unfortunately!
The service on both flights looks quite good except for the food offering on the outbound, very poor indeed!
Great pictures of Dubrovnik too, well done!
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): It was when I was filling in my Flight Memory details that I realised that this flight would cover a nice landmark, namely my Millionth Kilometre flown. Of course, with all the circling I’ve done over the years, I’m sure I actually passed this landmark a few flights back, not to mention the fact that I only started counting flights from the age of 5 or so, when I’d already done a good hundred thousand kms (those London-Tokyo via Anchorage flights really add up).
Talking of landmarks, my previous report with Saudia finally got me into the “100 Airlines” club, not that I realised at the time. Oh, and I’ve nearly completed my 25th circumnavigation of the world, having finished my return trip to the moon a year or so ago. (Don’t you just love flightmemory.com for these useless facts?!)
Congrats on all those milestones!
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): FIDS. Seems like Barbados (Bridgetown) is popular this morning with 4 flights
Quoting adamspotter (Reply 7): Looks like you had 2 enjoyable flights in Club Europe
Yes, 2 pretty good flights
Quoting adamspotter (Reply 7): You sure got a great deal, when notifying us on FB about this deal I was very tempted to take it but it didn't work out unfortunately!
Shame you couldn't take advantage of the deal...it was pretty good
Quoting adamspotter (Reply 7): Great pictures of Dubrovnik too, well done!
MSS658 From Belgium, joined Oct 2010, 2212 posts, RR: 14 Reply 9, posted (5 months 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 11206 times:
Hello Gabriel
Nice trip report, thanks for sharing it with us. Nothing is better than ending a well flown year with a ride on a classic bird up front. I do like the attention that BA gives in it's J class. Don't see that much of that anymore. Dubrovnik looks great as well.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): And Easter will herald another inaugural, Cityjet’s new LCY-DRS route, along with a return NUE-LCY.
Any chances you will make it to the MAN meet a week after Easter?
jwhite9185 From United Kingdom, joined May 2007, 721 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (5 months 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 10288 times:
Interesting read as usual Gabriel,
The brunch looks like a pretty poor offering - similar to the afternoon tea service I got when I went to Madrid. Although both massively out do the pathetic offering I was offered on the way back from LCA the other week.
Dubrovnik looks interesting - although it didn't seem like there was an awful lot there from your pics - except cats. Much like Cyprus I found.
Must say that I'm in agreement with your views on the BA 737 - not bad, but a little well used!
Quoting jwhite9185 (Reply 11): The brunch looks like a pretty poor offering - similar to the afternoon tea service I got when I went to Madrid. Although both massively out do the pathetic offering I was offered on the way back from LCA the other week.
Ooh, what they they give you? I hope you've written to BA regarding the meals. They'll only change if everyone tells them!
Quoting jwhite9185 (Reply 11): Dubrovnik looks interesting - although it didn't seem like there was an awful lot there from your pics - except cats. Much like Cyprus I found.
Well, it's a small town. Lots of little musuems. Most people go in the summer for the beaches and mountains.
Malayil From United States of America, joined Jan 2010, 72 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (5 months 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 9864 times:
Hi Gabriel,
Croatia still stamps British passports because they are not in the EU yet. Of course Croatia is joining next July so at that point they will stop stamping EU passports.
jwhite9185 From United Kingdom, joined May 2007, 721 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (5 months 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 9761 times:
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 12): Ooh, what they they give you? I hope you've written to BA regarding the meals. They'll only change if everyone tells them!
Only just a step above the UK domestic offerings - a duck wrap. That was it. For a five hour flight! All details will be revealed in due course though.
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 16, posted (5 months 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 9740 times:
Quoting jwhite9185 (Reply 15): Only just a step above the UK domestic offerings - a duck wrap. That was it. For a five hour flight! All details will be revealed in due course though.
Thats pretty mean. Don't they normally do a hot meal in Y on that route? Do the Titan birds not have ovens?
ba319-131 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 8264 posts, RR: 56 Reply 17, posted (5 months 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 9709 times:
Great read GC, thanks for posting!
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Dubrovnik. I’ve long since wanted a journey to both of these exotic locales. Thankfully, the price was perfect for both of them…£129 return…in Club (€159/$207). And it was cheaper in business than economy!
What a steal, an amazing Club was cheaper than economy!
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): BA has taken an interesting route for seat selection. With the exception of First Class, which has free seat allocation from the time of booking, if you aren’t a Gold/Silver card holder or on a full fare ticket, then you have to pay for seat reservation. So, even if you’ve spent £4,000 on a return to Sydney in Business Class, you’ll still have to stump up the cash (in this case £120 for a return flight). Whilst it left me playing seat roulette (i.e. hoping a good seat would be available at OLCI, rather than stump up the £20 o/w fee), I think it’s a fairly good policy, enabling more important customers (e.g. Gold card holders) the best choice of seats even when booking late, whilst enabling everyone to choose a seat in advance if they wish.
- Agreed a good policy though I did feel slightly annoyed, as a Silver card holder,I had to stump up £60.00 for my 'billy no mates' seat in WTP in November on my LHR-HKG sector
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Twenty minutes after wheels up, lunch is served. Well, I say lunch, but this meal has been branded as “brunch” by BA. Thankfully, I’d read this wonderful thread before the journey, was able to plan my meals accordingly.
- Hmm, looked quite nice actually, though the quantity leaves one lacking.
In their infinite wisdom, despite the flight leaving around 1130, and arriving into destination at around 1430, lunch is not served in business class. Lunch only starts at 1200. Clearly ridiculous, especially when the choices are “would you like a croissant or the cold cuts”. Er, seriously, “a croissant” is NOT a meal choice! To be fair to BA, the croissant does come with a saucer of fruit. Having eaten a plate full of pastries and fruit in the lounge, I go for the cold cuts.
- That's a daft rule, 11:30 departure or 12:00 departure, by the time you are fed it's after 12:00!
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 18, posted (5 months 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 9674 times:
Thanks for all the comments!
Quoting Malayil (Reply 13): Croatia still stamps British passports because they are not in the EU yet. Of course Croatia is joining next July so at that point they will stop stamping EU passports.
Surely if you can enter on an ID card (which can't be stamped) then there is no reason to have to stamp a passport. There's no requirement to have a passport stamped just because it's outside the EU. I'm 99% sure before a lot of the newer EU countires joined, there was no stamping of British passports.
Quoting kurt (Reply 14): Excellent report. I really love this photo:
Thanks. It was great when the sun finally came out!
Quoting ba319-131 (Reply 17): - Heathrow is not a patch upon Gatwick, it's like walking from a different country, even domestic passengers need a passport
lukeyboy95 From Papua New Guinea, joined Apr 2008, 951 posts, RR: 35 Reply 19, posted (5 months 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 9443 times:
Hi Gabriel,
Just a quick comment to say what an enjoyable airline.
I am sure an AA member would find this a hard report to get through without strained nerves, and I wonder if BA should be nicknamed Boozy Airlines. The meal outbound, though dainty, looked pretty tasty. It is my feeling that if you had asked for a little bit more, they would have honored the request!? Coming back looked very tasty, although the shape looked a bit too much like they had just slapped it out of the reheating tupperware. Stick a sprig of parsley on it BA!
I am in Asia for the next 2 months, so I might be seeing you if another impromptu trip comes about!
767747 From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 1750 posts, RR: 26 Reply 20, posted (5 months 4 days ago) and read 9369 times:
Another great report, gabrielchew!
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): It’s pretty tasty – nice to have the smoked salmon and cream cheese. I did half keep expecting the crew to come by and give me a choice of hot main courses, but of course they didn’t. I’m sorry BA but this is NOT ok. I can only imagine what an SQ flight attendant would say if that’s all they had to offer on a Singapore-Bangkok flight (which is some 25% shorter). I’m pretty sure that most people on a post-11am flight will have had breakfast, and be expecting lunch.
It's frustrating when airlines do this, especially when its a long flight. When we flew from IAH-MSP in September on United in F, they served a snack on a flight which was over 2 hours long in length. The flight left at 7:30pm. To me, this stands for a normal "dinner" meal time, but I think if the flight had left at 5, or 6, we would have gotten dinner. It's definitely bizarre!
sultanils From Belgium, joined Mar 2010, 1185 posts, RR: 29 Reply 22, posted (5 months 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 9211 times:
Hello Gabriel,
Nice read! That Club price was really a steal, is it common occurence for BA to offer those that low? Good to see some of Dubrovnik, both the airport and the city. And yes, also those places can be wintery in winter time.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): When there are more than 15 people in Club, there are 2 FAs working in the cabin (and 2 in economy). With 15 or less, there is just 1 in Club, but still 2 in economy.
Interesting. Is that so? Inside information or ‘common knowledge’
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): I use the towel to give the arm rests/table/anything else I can reach a good scrub.
I go as far as giving the window a good scrub but that’s all.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): But today, whilst flying over the Alps, everyone turns into a lush, quaffing champagne like there’s no tomorrow.
The Alps look stunning as ever and indeed what’s better then to have some champagne with those magnificent views?
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): It also sports possibly the most revoltingly decorated bathroom in Christendom. Check out the wooden toilet seat!
Lovely. It doesn’t match at all and that tone of green is about as ugly as it gets.
Yeah I was expecting a hot meal at the very least. I was also told a few times that the full Club service wold be given onboard, the only difference being the economy seat.
I'd assume the 767 does have ovens for the longer sectors it operates?
airbuseric From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 4015 posts, RR: 52 Reply 24, posted (5 months 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 9163 times:
Hi Gabriel,
very great and detailed report here on BA's CE. You know, I flew them in this class quite a bit (reports still to come, I guess), and indeed the outbound catering is not good. I love BA's service though, as I do the lounges. I think the LGW lounge is still quite good compared to many others. I always feel welcome there.
You had a great deal with everything here, the car cheap, the flights cheap... I would've loved to join and could've used the tierpoints to keep my BAEC on Sapphire, we'll see if I still can manage it... Time was running short though, too much travelling recently.
Lovely pics from DBV area, some nice shots with the cats Maybe this is the best season to visit? In summer it might even be too crowded.
Regards
Eric
"The whole world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going"
vhtje From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2009, 306 posts, RR: 0 Reply 25, posted (5 months 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 9111 times:
Thanks for the excellent report! I booked this exact same flight for my partner's birthday in March. Looking forward to it, and thanks for the tips on what to see and do!
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 26, posted (5 months 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 9041 times:
Thanks for all the comments!
Quoting lukeyboy95 (Reply 19): Just a quick comment to say what an enjoyable airline.
Enjoyable airline or report? BA was pretty good.
Quoting lukeyboy95 (Reply 19): The meal outbound, though dainty, looked pretty tasty. It is my feeling that if you had asked for a little bit more, they would have honored the request!?
It's true, I could have requested to try the other "course" of a croissant as well. I knew what was coming, however, was ate in the lounge.
Quoting lukeyboy95 (Reply 19): Coming back looked very tasty, although the shape looked a bit too much like they had just slapped it out of the reheating tupperware. Stick a sprig of parsley on it BA!
Well, they do just throw them from a plastic container onto the plane when standing in the aisle. A sprig of parsely would be nice, but as least they don't still serve them in the plastic container sat in a china bowl like they used to.
Quoting lukeyboy95 (Reply 19): I am in Asia for the next 2 months, so I might be seeing you if another impromptu trip comes about!
Sadly, I don't think another trip is on the card (although I am still trying to organise a Middle East trip over Xmas.....hunting for fares now)
Quoting 767747 (Reply 20): Another great report, gabrielchew!
Thanks!
Quoting 767747 (Reply 20): It's frustrating when airlines do this, especially when its a long flight. When we flew from IAH-MSP in September on United in F, they served a snack on a flight which was over 2 hours long in length. The flight left at 7:30pm. To me, this stands for a normal "dinner" meal time, but I think if the flight had left at 5, or 6, we would have gotten dinner. It's definitely bizarre!
Yes, at least BA continues serving dinner from 5ish all the way through till midnight.
Quoting 767747 (Reply 20): Croatia looks beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
No problem
Quoting themit9 (Reply 21):
A brilliant and very interesting report as usual
Quoting sultanils (Reply 22): That Club price was really a steal, is it common occurence for BA to offer those that low?
They do have some good offers from time to time. £777 in Club to ICN earlier this month, and £998 to KIN for a lot of next summer. You just need to wait for the emails. There should be a sale starting in the next few days.
https://www.britishairways.com/travel/low-price-finder/execclub/_gf/en_gb
Quoting sultanils (Reply 22): Interesting. Is that so? Inside information or ‘common knowledge’
Um, insider info shared via FT
Quoting sultanils (Reply 22): The Alps look stunning as ever and indeed what’s better then to have some champagne with those magnificent views?
Indeed wonderful views, amde better with champagne!
Quoting sultanils (Reply 22): Lovely. It doesn’t match at all and that tone of green is about as ugly as it gets.
At leas it was clean and there was plenty of hot water!
Quoting sultanils (Reply 22): Mind if I join you for a couple of flights here?
Um, if you insist!
Quoting jwhite9185 (Reply 23): Yeah I was expecting a hot meal at the very least. I was also told a few times that the full Club service wold be given onboard, the only difference being the economy seat.
Ha, the only similarity betwen Club and Y on this leg IS the seat!
Quoting airbuseric (Reply 24):
very great and detailed report here on BA's CE.
Thanks Eric
Quoting airbuseric (Reply 24): I think the LGW lounge is still quite good compared to many others. I always feel welcome there.
Yes, it's quite a nice lounge, although not before all the Carribean flights go out during the holidays!
Quoting airbuseric (Reply 24): Lovely pics from DBV area, some nice shots with the cats Maybe this is the best season to visit? In summer it might even be too crowded.
Yes, I think the summer is far too busy. Go in the Spring or Autumn
Quoting vhtje (Reply 25): Thanks for the excellent report! I booked this exact same flight for my partner's birthday in March. Looking forward to it, and thanks for the tips on what to see and do!
dc9northwest From Romania, joined Feb 2007, 1735 posts, RR: 4 Reply 27, posted (5 months 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 8921 times:
Hey Gab, nice report to what is generally considered to be a very scenic part of the world. Your pictures do make me think that's true.
Shame to hear about the meal on the outbound flight. DL also has these meal times for meal service in (domestic) First Class, I believe... But they're a bit nicer than BA's AFAIK. I got lunch on a flight leaving at 10:49, but I think they have a gap between lunch and dinner (2-5 pm, maybe).
I don't agree with paying for seats in Biz/First. It's just a cheap measure to take... Y? Y ? Sure, if necessary, as long as it's specified clearly before booking...
Anyway, Dubrovnik and surroundings look really nice. I like the cats as well. And, yeah, it's probably better to visit now than in summer (but it's so much easier to get there in summer...).
Quoting dc9northwest (Reply 27): what is generally considered to be a very scenic part of the world. Your pictures do make me think that's true.
Yes, it's really pretty round there
Quoting dc9northwest (Reply 27): I don't agree with paying for seats in Biz/First. It's just a cheap measure to take... Y? Y ? Sure, if necessary, as long as it's specified clearly before booking...
Well, you need to balanmce the needs of everyone, including the late booking, full fare paying Gold pax
Quoting dc9northwest (Reply 27): Anyway, Dubrovnik and surroundings look really nice. I like the cats as well. And, yeah, it's probably better to visit now than in summer (but it's so much easier to get there in summer...).
Yes, the transport links around Croatia are so much better in summer
Quoting EL-AL (Reply 28): Fantastic report! Thank you for shearing.
Thanks!
Quoting EL-AL (Reply 28): Going to someplace where you are the only tourist is always fun. I was just wondering how Kos in Greece looks like nowadays.
Well sometimes fun, sometime a bit lonely as nothing open!
Quoting EL-AL (Reply 28): Great you found a JCL cheaper then YCL. I never find those
Lufthansa747 From Philippines, joined May 1999, 3174 posts, RR: 47 Reply 30, posted (5 months 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 8754 times:
Great report Gab, as usual.
Just I is not biz award on BA. It's U rather... Still that availability makes no sense as I is the lowest C-class paid fare and where paid online upgrades book...
baexecutive From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2005, 653 posts, RR: 0 Reply 34, posted (5 months 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 8614 times:
Great TR, glad to see you made full use of the lounge & complimentary bar onboard.
Whilst I do agree with you the 'extended breakfast' could have a bit more substantial offering, I think the reference to SIA is a bit unfair as there is quite a bit of difference from offering what is essentially a leisure point to point route on a short haul aircraft at the prices offered by BA. To book the 'similar' flight on SIA you would expect to pay in excess of £500, flying on a long haul jet with several more crew between two major business centres, bear in mind there is only 1 crew member to serve up to 20 CE passengers on this route.
You would realistically have to compare this offering with that of other European airlines flying to leisure destinations in order for it to be a fair comparison.
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 35, posted (5 months 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 8597 times:
Quoting A340600 (Reply 33): Thanks for sharing this report, what a great deal
Glad you liked it. Great deal indeed.
Quoting baexecutive (Reply 34): Whilst I do agree with you the 'extended breakfast' could have a bit more substantial offering, I think the reference to SIA is a bit unfair as there is quite a bit of difference from offering what is essentially a leisure point to point route on a short haul aircraft at the prices offered by BA. To book the 'similar' flight on SIA you would expect to pay in excess of £500, flying on a long haul jet with several more crew between two major business centres, bear in mind there is only 1 crew member to serve up to 20 CE passengers on this route.
Well, if you look at "regular" fare on the routes, they're about the same (high). And BA do catering by bands dictated by distance not by financial/politcal prowess. The same catering (as per my flight) is dones on all these sectors:
AGP, ALC, ALG, ARN, BCN, BGO, BLQ, BRI, BUD, CPH, FAO, FCO, GOA, GIB, GOT, HEL, IBZ, LIN, LIS, MAD, MRS, MXP, NAP, NCE, OSL, PRG, PSA, SZG, TRN, TUN, VCE, VIE, VRN, WAW, and ZAG.
And as I said, with loads of 15+, there are 2 Club crew.
I wasn't aware that the same offering was provided ex LHR also, as I said it should be enhanced slightly. I still stand by my statement that it is unfair to compare the catering to that of SIA though.
The number of crew working in CE is determined by banding of flight and AC. On the route you flew it is 20+ that triggers a second crew so one crew member not 15+.
stipica From Croatia, joined Feb 2011, 398 posts, RR: 8 Reply 38, posted (5 months 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 7750 times:
Hi gabrielchew !
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Thankfully, the price was perfect for both of them…£129 return…in Club (€159/$207). And it was cheaper in business than economy!
this is unbelievable ...ok promotion but cheaper than economy ??? ...
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Mid-winter, decidedly less so. Today sees a handful of flights from Zagreb, and one each to Rome, Frankfurt and London.
and this is to much for the winter ... 3 daily flights to ZAG offers nice connectivity and couple times per week to FCO FRA ZRH CDG and LGW is quite enough for Dubrovnik county ( just 120 000 + few tourists and the occasional cat hehe )
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): There’re no airbridges in DBV, so it’s across the tarmac to the terminal.
the only real way ...no airbridges in "our beautiful homeland"... DBV will receive the first one but after the second phase of expansion ( 2015 )
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Croatia is pretty good when it comes to international credit card acceptance (in fact, better than most European countries, apart from the UK of course with our love of plastic),
hehhe we are spending like lunatics parallel with a severe recession and at the same time banks savings grows ...weird ... yes we love plastic too
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 1): Nice to see that despite the crap weather, there is still plenty of citrus fruit around.
I just received a mountain of oranges and lemons from my eco-orienteted mother
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 1): Dinner tonight is my old favourite risotto…served with cuttlefish ink.
you and cro = risotto heheheh
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): and head off into the wilderness (well, head up the Pelješac Peninsula).
Pelješac is unique, mainland with island atmosphere ... very popular among the urban - Eco-active types and surfers
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 1): I arrive in the village of Mali Ston. What is this wall?
this is little wall of China with the same function ... protecting and blocking access to the Peljesac
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 1): to the sleepy town of Orebić. I got a great deal on an apartment (I think I may have been the only tourist in town, no, the entire peninsula that night) which is warm and comfortable. It also sports possibly the most revoltingly decorated bathroom in Christendom. Check out the wooden toilet seat!
hahahahha be happy that you found the apartment with heating and this is boutique seventies design and it increases the value ...ahhh ...
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 1): The peninsula is famed in Croatia for its wine.
oooo yes just drinking "Grgić Plavac Mali" ...we have a very good wines, but the problem is quantity
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 1): apparently Ston and Mali Ston are foodie destinations. And it’s true, the food was wonderful…another giant risotto, this time à la moules.
generally we still have high eco-quality food and a very diverse food culture with different historical influences ... Ston bay is famous for the production of oysters and other shells and off course risotto
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 1): The lounge is clean, but all the furniture seems to have been sourced from a shutting down office, and the chairs all seem to be arranged as if one were about to hold a brain storming session.
lounge in croatia something like hahahha ... somehow I have a feeling (or information ) that this is a temporary decoration
like you are noticed I am not commented BA although I am a big fan of the company and its contributions in interior innovation ... just me ...stipica
MeanGreen From United States of America, joined May 2006, 140 posts, RR: 0 Reply 39, posted (5 months 12 hours ago) and read 7466 times:
I must respectfully disagree with you on the seat selection policy. I paid for club when my wife and I were in Europe over the summer and I was shocked when I had to pay extra to insure we sat together in a premium class of service. This policy will make look at other options before booking with BA again. I will agree with you on their crews though; they were amazing!
rogerbcn From Andorra, joined Sep 2006, 1135 posts, RR: 19 Reply 40, posted (5 months 10 hours ago) and read 7344 times:
Hola Gabriel!
A very enjoyable trip report to one of the gems of the Med. I also like to travel to these filled up summer places off-season, they retain all their beauty but without the crowds, really well done and happy to see BA contributed to it in such a great manner, with those ridiculous Executive prices.... nice, I hope they offered the same not only off London.
I surely agree with you on the brunch option for the outbound, really ridiculous. Glad to see you got a good amount of drinks to forget about the poor meal.
I am the other person drinking Cointreau on flights, so better tell the airline beforehand if we ever meet on a flight
Thanks a lot for all your TRs this year, a pleasure to read.
May you have a great Christmas and a great coming year 2013, with many flights
Salut!
Roger
"At reise er at leve" H.C. Andersen (Travelling is Living)
LX138 From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2009, 349 posts, RR: 0 Reply 41, posted (4 months 4 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 6855 times:
Great fare to a place on my 'must do's' list.
I have to admit skipping the photos of the city as I didn't want to ruin my own experience of seeing it!
Not sure what others have written but when you look at your first pic of the 734 interior with the pictures on the wall it looks very smart and new, so in contrast to what others say the 734's can still look good inside!
With the cold meal - being a 99% leisure route, if BA can get away with not serving hot food, they will.
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 42, posted (4 months 3 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 6544 times:
Thanks for the comments.
Quoting LX138 (Reply 41): With the cold meal - being a 99% leisure route, if BA can get away with not serving hot food, they will.
Well, as mentioned before, the catering is as per band (done by distance), not by "quality" of the route.
Quoting LX138 (Reply 41): Not sure what others have written but when you look at your first pic of the 734 interior with the pictures on the wall it looks very smart and new, so in contrast to what others say the 734's can still look good inside!
It's when you sit down, and you rralise how old the plane is. The seats are falling to bit, and there was blue water in the toilet...very retro
Quoting rogerbcn (Reply 40):
A very enjoyable trip report to one of the gems of the Med
Thanks
Quoting rogerbcn (Reply 40): I hope they offered the same not only off London.
Um, I doubt it
Quoting rogerbcn (Reply 40): I am the other person drinking Cointreau on flights, so better tell the airline beforehand if we ever meet on a flight
Ha, we'll have to book a flight together sometime
Quoting MeanGreen (Reply 39): I must respectfully disagree with you on the seat selection policy. I paid for club when my wife and I were in Europe over the summer and I was shocked when I had to pay extra to insure we sat together in a premium class of service. This policy will make look at other options before booking with BA again.
Well, to each their own. If you can afford premium travel, you can also afford to pay to assign seats
Quoting stipica (Reply 38): this is unbelievable ...ok promotion but cheaper than economy ??? ...
And it's happening again a lot with the current sale
Quoting stipica (Reply 38): I just received a mountain of oranges and lemons from my eco-orienteted mother
Very nice!
Quoting stipica (Reply 38): this is little wall of China with the same function ... protecting and blocking access to the Peljesac
Very interesting to know
Quoting stipica (Reply 38): oooo yes just drinking "Grgić Plavac Mali" ...we have a very good wines, but the problem is quantity
Well, we'll be sampling some of the wine over lunch today!
Quoting The777Man (Reply 37): Nice to see another report from you with nice pictures.
Thanks Lars
Quoting The777Man (Reply 37): You had a great fare but the meal going was very small. Meal on the way back doesn't look so great; I would have gone for the salmon.
The salmon did look good, but I really wanted something hot
FLIEGER67 From Turkey, joined Sep 2003, 4391 posts, RR: 57 Reply 43, posted (4 months 3 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 6462 times:
Hi, Gabriel,
sure a good deal here with BA on the club.
Not the best time of the year weatherwise to visit Dubrovnik, but anyway really interesting to follow and also the pictures.
Well done.
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 44, posted (4 months 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 6070 times:
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 43): sure a good deal here with BA on the club.
Yes, was a great deal. Thanks BA!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 43): Not the best time of the year weatherwise to visit Dubrovnik, but anyway really interesting to follow and also the pictures.
Yes, the summer would have been better, but was nice to have a look around anyway.
Widebodyroga From United States of America, joined Sep 2008, 472 posts, RR: 4 Reply 45, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 5784 times:
Hey Gabriel. What a nice morning read. I saw this TR just before I left for my holiday break 10 days ago and I was looking forward to read it upon my return. Dubrovnik is very high on my list (and even higher on my wife's) so it was nice to see what you thought of it.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): into the “100 Airlines” club, not that I realised at the time. Oh, and I’ve nearly completed my 25th circumnavigation of the world, having finished my return trip to the moon a year or so ago. (Don’t you just love flightmemory.com for these useless facts?!)
I love those little flightmemory stats! And congrats on reaching all these new milestones!
Oh man, you're killing me with your food photos. I had some fish pate some 2 days ago and I still haven't stopped thinking about it... Also you made me very curious about Cointreau and about SoCo and Sprite. I need to try them now.
Thanks for putting this report together.
Widebodyroga
Visit my aviation page: http://widebodyroga.weebly.com/
reifel From Germany, joined Feb 2005, 1135 posts, RR: 1 Reply 46, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 5657 times:
Thanks for sharing!
I had a cruise from DBV once and I must say I loved the city. It was in September or so, still lovely weather, and we discovered a "improvised" bar on the rocks behind the city wall leaving all the tourist places behind and enjoying the sea and sunset and all the islands...
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Thankfully, the price was perfect for both of them…£129 return…in Club (€159/$207). And it was cheaper in business than economy!
This is a great deal! Incredible!
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Obviously passport control is empty apart from us, and after a few minutes wait, I’m stamped in (I’m surprised that Croatia still insists on stamping the passports from the UK…hardly any country stamps in Europe if they can avoid it….and what do they do with people arriving on ID cards?).
Yeah, they still do that. In the EU they don't stamp EU passports, but I must say that in all other countries they do...
Looking forward to your January travels... Wonder why so many of us seem to travel with Alitalia to Japan in January I'll do Osaka followed by Kuwait...
Quoting Widebodyroga (Reply 45): Dubrovnik is very high on my list (and even higher on my wife's) so it was nice to see what you thought of it.
It's a great city
Quoting Widebodyroga (Reply 45): I love those little flightmemory stats! And congrats on reaching all these new milestones!
Thanks
Quoting Widebodyroga (Reply 45): Glad to see a map where everything is where it's supposed to be. The maps on AA's in-flight magazine are infested with mistakes...
How can they make so many mistakes on something so simple?
Quoting Widebodyroga (Reply 45): Also you made me very curious about Cointreau and about SoCo and Sprite. I need to try them now.
Quoting reifel (Reply 46): It was in September or so, still lovely weather, and we discovered a "improvised" bar on the rocks behind the city wall leaving all the tourist places behind and enjoying the sea and sunset and all the islands...
Sounds idyllic
Quoting reifel (Reply 46): This is a great deal! Incredible!
FlyingSicilian From Croatia, joined Mar 2009, 823 posts, RR: 0 Reply 48, posted (2 months 2 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 3366 times:
Excellent report, not sure how I missed it before!
Love the pictures, you have a good eye for photos.
I flew on that same 737 CTA-LGW a few months ago, comfy but worn LOL. CTA used to see the BA 734 often.
as for the passports, unless something has changed recently I was told you can only enter on passport from the EU. Once they are fully into the EU that should change I was told. They always stamp my Italian Passport flying into Dubrovnik (and Split) and do not take nor look at the ID card. I have never seen them take an ID card at the airport actually, though I have been able to at land borders in Istria...??? YMMV I guess it will all be moot in a few months.
I've been back and forth to Hrvatska so much the last few months it is like living there but your photos made me feel like I was back, again really great shots.
Quoting FlyingSicilian (Reply 48): I've been back and forth to Hrvatska so much the last few months it is like living there but your photos made me feel like I was back, again really great shots.
Well, I try to take nice photos, still learning how to use my camera properly though!
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